As a father of two, a teacher, a writer, and a solopreneur, I’ve always been intrigued by children’s books. Cherished companions for both young and old, the best children’s books transcend generations and weave irresistible narrative magic no matter how often you read them. And yet, the ingredients seem so simple: colourful illustrations coupled with a pedagogically sound, kid-friendly story. How hard can it be?
As it turns out, and as my hitherto three years of reading to my son and daughter have shown me, writing a successful, perennial classic of the genre, is extremely hard! Thus, I started asking myself a different question: what does it take? What do the best children’s books do better than the rest?
First, here are my 5 best children’s books (a highly subjective list, of course, but based on my observations and analysis, nonetheless):
5. A Symphony of Sight and Sound: Dig Dig Digging (Margaret Mayo, Alex Ayliffe)
Dig Dig Digging is a masterclass in engaging young minds through the power of language. Mayo weaves a symphony of sounds, using repetition and onomatopoeia to bring the Awesome Machines to life: “Garbage trucks are good at gobble, gobble, gobbling. Crunching messy garbage bags, squeezing and squashing.”
This playful approach not only entertains but also encourages early literacy skills as children mimic the sounds and engage with the rhythm. My three-year-old daughter had this book memorized at two!
Illustrations That Pop
The illustrations, created by Alex Ayliffe, perfectly complement the text. Reminiscent of a South-Parkesque paper-cut-out style, the vehicles are instantly recognizable. Bold colours and clear lines make every vehicle jump off the page.
A Book for All to Dig Into
Dig Dig Digging stands as a testament to the power of simple language, vibrant illustrations, and a celebration of the fascinating world of construction — a world that transcends age and gender, and that’s open to anyone who wants to dig in!
4. Talking About the Not-So-Sunny-Side: Grumpy Monkey (Suzanne & Max Lang):
Have you ever woken up on the wrong side of the jungle gym? Jim Panzee, the star of Suzanne Lang’s picture book Grumpy Monkey, knows exatly what that’s like. In this charming and insightful tale, Jim the chimpanzee wakes up feeling utterly, completely, unquestionably grumpy.
Now, grumpy isn’t exactly a sunshine-and-rainbows kind of emotion. But Grumpy Monkey doesn’t shy away from it. Instead, it embraces the grumpiness with a healthy dose of humour. We see Jim trying to please his well-meaning friends, all the while not being able to quite shake off that feeling that he is, after all, feeling grumpy!
What makes Grumpy Monkey truly special is its ability to navigate this complex emotion without being preachy or didactic. It doesn’t tell children to “cheer up” or “get over it.” Instead, it simply shows Jim’s journey through his grumpiness, allowing kids to connect with and understand his feelings.
By the end of the book, Jim eventually comes out of his grumpy cloud — at least a little bit. But the important takeaway isn’t that the grumpiness eventually disappears — it’s that it’s okay to feel grumpy sometimes. Grumpy Monkey gives children a safe space to explore and acknowledge their own emotions, making it a valuable tool for parents and educators alike.
The vibrant illustrations by Max Lang perfectly complement the story. The jungle and its animals are vibrant but not domineering in their colouring, and yet, like all of the children’s books on the list, Grumpy Monkey sports a colour that makes it stand out on the book shelf: that inimitable, cheerfully grumpy red!
3. Rhyme & Repetition: The Secret Ingredient in “The Gruffalo” (Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler)
The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler’s creation is a masterclass in rhyme and suspense. The clever mouse and the terrifying (yet imaginary) Gruffalo engage young minds while celebrating the power of wit and resourcefulness.
But The Gruffalo’s true magic lies in the masterful use of rhyme: The story rhymes, and much like Shakespeare’s own use of rhyming couplets in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Donaldson’s rhymes elevate the story and its characters to the realm of the magical and the imagination. The rhymes and the rhythms are not only witty, it is also perfectly suited to the intended audience — simple enough for young children to understand and appreciate, yet sophisticated enough to keep adults engaged.
The Gruffalo (and the equally outstanding The Gruffalo’s Child) stand as a testament to the power of rhyme in children’s books. They demonstrate how simple language, when combined with clever rhymes and a captivating story, can create an unforgettable reading experience that fosters a love for language and learning.
2. A Kaleidoscope of Colour: “Giraffes Can’t Dance” (Giles Andreae & Guy Parker-Rees)
No other children’s book impressed me right from the start as much as Giraffes Can’t Dance. It’s difficult to appreciate the choice of vibrant colours on the screen, but the cover-page blue is outstanding, in every sense of the word:
Coupled with the mesmerizing colour scheme of the illustrations, Giraffes Can’t Dance creates a sense of magical realism that no other young children’s book can match.
Just as importantly, Giraffes Can’t Dance celebrates individuality and the courage to be different, again without being preachy or overly didactic.
The other animals are not just colourful, but their hues are used to reflect their personalities and the dance styles they embody.
The use of colour goes beyond mere aesthetics. It acts as a storytelling tool, highlighting Gerald’s initial isolation and his eventual joy when he finds his groove. Early in the book, Gerald is often placed against contrasting backgrounds, emphasizing his sense of being out of place. However, as he starts dancing freely, the colors around him soften and blend, reflecting a newfound sense of belonging.
1. Visual Storytelling at its Finest: “Good Night, Gorilla” by Peggy Rathmann
Peggy Rathmann’s almost wordless picture book invites interactive storytelling and visual exploration. The mischievous gorilla’s nighttime escapades are simultaneously funny and intriguing.
Good Night, Gorilla relies heavily on visual storytelling, trusting readers to decipher the unfolding chaos through a series of meticulous illustrations.
The story is not loud or dramatic. Instead, the zookeeper’s good-night-routine is quickly understood and anticipated by young readers, allowing them to focus on the animals’ antics, and detective work is necessary to unravel the multiple parallel plots: the gorilla escaping with the other animals, the little mouse joining the menagerie with his banana on a string, and the red balloon flying off on an adventure into the night sky.
Thus, Goodnight Gorilla encourages interaction and engagement, prompting children to point out the hidden objects, whisper along with the animals, and anticipate the next steps in their audacious plan.
So, let’s sum up what these five favourites of mine do better than the rest:
- Engagement through Sound and Rhythm: Great children’s picture books use playful language, such as onomatopoeia and repetition to capture (and retain) a child’s attention.
- Address Sensitive Issues and Complex Emotions: Great children’s picture books explore complex emotions, like grumpiness, sadness, or loneliness, in a way that is relatable and comforting.
- Create a Musical Reading Experience: Great children’s picture books use rhyme and rhythm to create a musical and enjoyable reading experience that helps children develop language skills and memory.
- Bring the Story World to Life with Vibrant Colours: Great children’s picture books use colour effectively to create a visually engaging and immersive experience that mirrors the emotions and personalities of the characters.
- Encourage Interaction through Interwoven Narratives: Great children’s picture books use multiple storylines or subtle details to create an interactive reading experience that invites participation and that activates the imagination.
There you have it. I could go on and on, but ultimately, what these five favourites have shown me is that:
- There is no match for the thoughtful, deliberate, and ceaselessly creative authors and illustrators of these truly great children’s picture books,
- Please do not buy into the AI-assisted regurgitation of picture books that I see being recommended like the next gold rush on the internet.
- We must learn to recognize and appreciate the truly creative authors and illustrators out there, instead.
Truly original stories do not simply inspire us — they are vicarious role models for us all.
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